In honor of Memorial Day on May 25, KLRU presents programing throughout the month of May celebrating veterans and their families.

Operation Appreciation– May 21 at 9 pm, May 24 at 6 pm
Each week, retirees from Georgetown, TX, give heartfelt thank yous to soldiers reporting for duty at Fort Hood as well as those injured in combat. This documentary follows the volunteers as they collect cookies, brownies and doughnuts from local stores, and baked goods made by people in the community to distribute at the Army base. The retirees travel more than 50 miles with cars filled to the brim with treats to hand the treats to hundreds of soldiers getting processed at Fort Hood every Thursday. Not only do these volunteers walk the lines giving treats and saying thanks to the incoming troops, but they also bring food to the Wounded Warriors buildings, where severely injured soldiers are recovering, and to the Fisher House, which gives a home to military families to be close to a loved one during hospitalization. Many of the volunteers are veterans themselves, and have incredible stories of their own survival in war.

Salute to the Troops: In Performance at the White House – May 22 at 9 pm
President Obama and First Lady, Michelle Obama welcome Mary J. Blige, Common, John Fogerty, Willie Nelson, Romeo Santos, and also active duty military members U.S. Army SGT. Christiana R. Ball, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Matt Smith and Capt. John Ed Auer will offer a musical tribute to the service and sacrifice of our troops and the often overlooked contribution of their families back home.

Dick Winters: “Hang Tough” – May 24 at 3 pm
Hang Tough honors one of World War II’s most respected combat leaders – Major Richard D. Winters. Emmy-winning British actor Damian Lewis (Homeland), narrates the documentary and shares his thoughts on Winters, who he portrayed in the acclaimed HBO mini-series Band of Brothers. “Hang Tough” traces Winters’ formative years growing up in Pennsylvania, his development as a leader in the U.S. Army, the famed attack on Brecourt Manor on D-Day, and the dedication on June 6, 2012 of the Richard D. Winters Leadership Monument in Normandy, France. In addition to Winters’ own recollections, original members of Winters’ unit, Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne, speak of his commitment to his men, his heroism and his legacy.

Day of Days: June 6, 1944 – May 24 at 4 pm
On June 6, 1944, thousands of Allied servicemen landed on the shores of northern France, tasked with liberating western Europe from Nazi tyranny. Over the ensuing hours and days, the men faced decimating machine-gun fire, mortars and artillery, eventually fighting their way inland, but not before suffering a staggering number of casualties. To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landing, four D-Day veterans gather at the famed Museum of World War II outside of Boston, Mass. to share their experiences from that fateful “Day of Days.” Cameras eavesdrop on their conversations as they vividly recall details from their ordeal – from the perils of the amphibious assault to the invasion’s gruesome aftermath. Their interactions with one another yield long-buried, and often painful, memories. They recount their transformations from boys to men, reveal their uneasiness with the term “hero,” and grapple with why they survived when so many others did not.

National Memorial Day Concert – May 24 at 7 pm and 8:30 pm
Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise co-host the 26th broadcast of this night of remembrance honoring the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, their families at home and all those who have given their lives for our country. The concert airs live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol before an audience of hundreds of thousands, millions at home, and to our troops around the world via American Forces Network.

Homefront – May 25 at 8 pm
View intimate portraits of America’s military families, with unprecedented access to soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen and women in the all-volunteer military. The revealing documentary tells stories of pride and patriotism, sacrifice and resilience.

Arts In Context: In Their Own Words – May 28 at 7:30 pm
Darden Smith had never had a real conversation with a U.S. military service member until he met Lt. Col. Fred Cale. He quickly realized that they had much in common – both were music lovers. Through this meeting, Smith realized that the divide between soldier and civilian was not what he thought it was. He saw the potential for music and songwriting to help soldiers transition back into civilian life. Songwriting With Soldiers offers intensely immersive retreats to military veterans and active duty soldiers where they write songs about their experiences with the help of professional songwriters. Equal parts cathartic release and creative endeavor, SongwritingWith: Soldiers offers a chance at healing to the people who need it most.